What is the meaning of the idiom "not too shabby"?
What does the idiom "not too shabby" mean?
It means something is fairly good or quite good. Whatever is being referred too wasn't at its best but it wasn't terrible either. It was somewhere in the middle. I use it as a form of surprise when I see something I wasn't expecting.
Example:
John came in 2nd in the race. That's not to shabby!
I'd say your drawing of a horse is not to shabby, if I do say so myself.
Not to shabby for a dinner with the minimum ingredients you had in your pantry.
In conclusion You can use this idiom if you want to compliment someone who tried their best at something but didn't quite show or do perfect work. You know they had worked hard.
Not to shabby
Not to bad
You don't look too shabby
This jacket is not too shabby
A way of expressing something that doesn't look bad at all
It is a way to tell someone that he actually looks good.
He looks better than you expected
The expression "not too shabby" means not too bad.
What does shabby mean?
Shabby means something is not of good quality. It also means that something is of bad quality because it is falling apart.
"Your clothes look shabby"
"That house is shabby-looking"
This can be mean that there are holes or rips that might make the shirt look old and of low quality.
The house might be falling apart.
"Not too shabby"
"Not too shabby" is a great expression to use when you're impressed by something or someone and you didn't think it/they would be good (like trying a new ice cream, seeing a new movie, or after watching your friend's basketball practice).
NOT TOO SHABBNot too
NOT TOO SHABBY
When you mean to say something is not too bad. It is not good but it is not bad.
NOT TOO SHABBY
The girl asked her friend if she did a great job painting the chair. The friend answered - its not too shabby.
Not too shabby
Its alright/okay .
When people use the sentence " not too shabby" this could mean something is okay or up to standard enough . It is not too great or too bad its okay . People often always expect the worse when trying new things but once it is experienced and satisfies but does not quite WOW you people would say "not too shabby" .
its okay but not that great.
a common expression
good or not too bad
* quite good; fairly good; not too bad
something that doesn't look bad nor outstanding
Ex: Her dress isn't too shabby. ( Her dress is not too bad.)
common English expression
Not too shabby means fairly good or quite good. If we were to define shabby on its own, it means something that is threadbare or worn out.
How do you use it in a sentence?
He got a 92 on his English test. That's not too shabby even though its his first one in high school.